When I first came to Bolivia and settled down in Cochabamba, I discovered a group of photographers who organised regular meetings not far from where I lived. I met there people with whom I shared my passion and who will become one of my first ‘Facebook’ friends in Bolivia ;) However, I attended only two meetings before I moved to Santa Cruz de la Sierra… Thankfully, the new city, located in Bolivian tropics, had its own photography group which I discovered via Facebook – Fotografos de la Naturaleza en Bolivia.

I was never a nature photographer, but I appreciated the work of other people, who displayed not only a passion for nature and environment but also a big deal of patience and drive for adventure. I was mesmerised by the amazing images I found on this Facebook page, which have showed different parts of Bolivia, some of them I was fortunate to visit myself. My only regret is that I had never took part in any organised outing with the group, which is not only getting bigger each week, but also gets noticed by local authorities who see it as a great way to promote tourism. I had, however, met some of the members, two of whom I was admiring from the very beginning of my participation in the group.

Ruben Dario Azogue is one of the creators of the group and its leader. His landscape photography is close to perfection, carefully composed and tuned, but not over-processed. I like what he said in one of the interviews about the nature photography:

“We are hunters for imaging excellence. But instead of grabbing the gun to hunt, we grab a camera and we can feel the same adrenaline. It is very similar process: one has to crawl, lie on the ground, wait for prey and shoot it; but in this case the animal survives’ (La Region).

The other leader of the group is Ivan Gutierrez Lemaitre – a biochemist by profession. I admire especially his photographs of birds, taken with his ‘old’ and favourite camera, what he often emphasize, Sony Alpha :) The art-works of Ivan are the best example of an old saying that it isn’t a camera that makes a photographer. Just have a look!

Most of the members of the group created in 2007 are not photographers by profession, but through personal development they managed to reach the heights of photographic process. They gladly share their knowledge and experience with everybody, online and via organised workshops and events, which are mostly free of charge and open to anybody who wants to learn about photography.

Nature photographers of Bolivia very seldom gain financial profit from their images – they are rather driven by the preservation of the natural environment than money. And nowadays they mission is more important than ever, as country, which has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, faces many ecological issues: poaching of jaguars and other wild animals in Amazon basin, illegal farming destroying natural habitats or mining for lithium, which could change the landscape of one of Bolivia’s most popular tourist destinations – Salar de Uyuni – forever. The members of the group, who live all around the country and travel to many not easily reached places, try to make other people aware of what they have at their doorstep and cautious that all this magical world of nature could have disappeared, if not protected.

“I’ve never felt so much fear before as when entering a protected area now, because I run into strange people and you do not know if they can harm you. The main concern today is the drug trafficking. (La Region)’

It’s worth to emphasize that the group consist of not only Bolivia born photographers but also foreigners like Polish Radek Czajkowski andGerman Steffen Richle, about whom I wrote before. And of course, this blog post could go on endlessly as there are so many other nature photographers in Bolivia worth mentioning, but I will have to finish here.

However, I welcome you to view a digital book presenting the eccelent work of other members of Fotografos de Naturaleza en Bolivia – ‘Bolivia en 100 Fotografias de Naturaleza’, put together by Ruben Dario Azogue in 2014. I wonder if you can find my photograph – a beautiful reminder of my precious time spent in Cochabamba?;)

They say, Poles live in every corner of the world – for centuries they have emigrated: some were forced to do so, others left the country in search of better life, looking for adventure or because of love.

Bolivia may not appear as the promised land to ordinary people (exception are the Mennonites, who moved here from Mexico), but several compatriots made it their new home and can not imagine a better place to live. So, what have in common Mileniusz Spanowicz, Radoslaw Czajkowski and Szymon Kochański?

Well, all of them are photographers! Who keeps track of my blog could certainly notice that Bolivia is probably one of the most photogenic places in the world. Not only for its beautiful landscapes!

The most well-known Polish nature photographer in Bolivia must be Mileniusz Spanowicz – zootechnician by education, a painter with a passion, and true citizen of the world. I acquainted myself with his achievements by accident, sitting on the plane from Santa Cruz to Cochabamba and reviewing Bolivian airline’s magazine. I was looking at pictures of postal stamps and there was one with a deer signed with familiar sounding name – Mileniusz Spanowicz.

Spanowicz, having an interest in rich Amazon nature, came to Bolivia in 2003, where he settled down and started a family. Today, he works in the Madidi National Park and collaborates with the Wildlife Conservation Society. Madidi Park, which is considered the most biologically diverse region on earth, still holds many secrets. Mileniusz Spanowicz, recognized and respected in Bolivia scientist and artist, is also the discoverer of a new species of lizard! But the main characters of his photographs, exhibited both in the country (Bolivia) and abroad (in Poland among others) are jaguars and snakes —> about the recent exhibition in La Paz.

Mileniusz is one of those people who, appearing in the (new) country, immerses himself in everyday life and in culture, becoming its adopted child – not by a decree or administrative concessions, but by his work of undeniable love for Bolivia.

I am sure that soon we will hear about Mileniusz Spanowicz again, as soon he is planning to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Polish traveler, Arkady Fiedler (Polskatimes.pl).

And I’m still waiting for the phone number of my famous countryman, which he has passed for me to my friend from Cochabamba, who met him by chance in Totoroto, and who the very number somehow misplaced;) By the way, the world is small, isn’t it?

Radoslaw Czajkowski, to Bolivians known as Radek, also loves to photograph the nature, but does commercial photography too. Recently, he became a star of Bolivia’s media, as the winner of the 4th edition of the photo contest ‘Bolivian endangered animal species’ (4º Concurso de fotografía de especies en peligro de Bolivianas extinción), thanks to his excellent picture of pink river dolphins. How I envied him both fame and the thousand dollars!

We know each other virtually, being the members of the Facebook group of nature photographers in Bolivia, FNB – Fotografos de Naturaleza en Bolivia. Some of Radek’s works are included in the latest publication of the group (so far only online), where one of my photos found its place:)—> BOLIVIA en 100 fotografias. You can also admire his talent on his professional website —> Luz y Sombra.

And finally, Szymon Kochanski, who I found at the very beginning of my Bolivian adventure, thanks to his blog—> My Way Around, which until recently had a subtitle of: ‘Polish Embassy in Bolivia’. Szymon must have resigned from this prestigious position of unofficial ambassador, as he left his adoptive homeland. Probably not for long though, because Bolivia without ‘Simon K., the greatest Bolivian cowboy’, cannot do!

From Szymon’s photographs I like the most pictures showing the streets of La Paz, where he lived for several years —> click, and from his journey around Bolivia;)

Szymon appeared in many interviews (just enter his name in google and you will see!), but the real wave of ‘fame’ and ‘hate’ fell on him last year, after an interview published on pages of national newspaper —> Wyborcza.pl. How I laughed reading the envious comments below the article:)

fot. Szymon Kochanski

Uwaga! Nie wszyscy Polacy mieszkajacy w Boliwii to fotografowie (choc większość z ich to zdolne ‘bestie’;)Attention! Not all Poles living in Bolivia are photographers (however most of them are talented ‘beasts’;)